BASIC Berkshires

Moving Life Stories (Pittsfield)
2023-06-06 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-30 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-16 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-05-02 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-04-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-04-18 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) and 2 more dates | Berkshire Family YMCA, 292 North St, Pittsfield, 01201
Open to all ages; FREE
Pittsfield Series:
Tuesdays, Apr 4 – May 23
6-8pm
Location: Pittsfield YMCA
292 North St, Pittsfield, MA 01201
To express interest or get in touch, please contact berkshire.pulse@gmail.com or call 413-274-6624.
Moving Life Stories (MLS) is a creative movement class created for and geared toward the immigrant population and their allies in the Berkshires. MLS provides opportunities to share personal journeys, stories, and connections to places past and present through movement games, exercises, dancing, and community building.
In this series of workshops, we will learn various ways to tell and embody our stories through play, creative movement, and the creation of mini-dances. No prior movement experience is required, and the class is appropriate for all ages.
A Spanish-speaking interpreter will be present, childcare is provided, and transportation can be arranged.
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Historias de Vida en Movimiento es una clase de movimiento creativo creado para la comunidad inmigrante en los Berkshire. La clase brinda la oportunidad de compartir experiencias personales e historias de y conexiones con lugares de su pasado y presente a través del movimiento, ejercicios, baile y construcción de comunidad.
En esta serie de talleres aprenderemos varios métodos para contar y expresar nuestras historias a través del juego, movimiento creativo, y la creación de bailes cortos. No se requiere experiencia previa y la clase es apta para todas las edades.
Un traductor de habla hispana estará presente y se puede organizar el transporte gratuito.

Pedrito Martinez
2023-05-13 20:00 - 21:30 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Pedrito Martinez
Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez will perform with his band on Saturday, May 13 at 8 p.m.
Pedro Pablo “Pedrito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1973 in the Cayo Hueso neighborhood, where rumba is played all day long, and began his musical career at the age of 11, with a foundation in the rumba and Afro Cuban Yoruba traditions. Since settling in New York City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has recorded or performed with Paul Simon, Wynton Marsalis, Paquito D’Rivera, Bruce Springsteen, Ruben Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Matthews, and Sting, and has contributed to over 75 albums. A consummate master of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and the batá drum, he is also the world’s first-call rumbero—playing, singing, and dancing with dozens of Cuban rumba groups.
Pedrito Martinez’s performance is coordinated in part by SCAN, the Mahaiwe’s Spanish-language Community Advisory Network committee. SCAN is organized in partnership with VIM (Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires) and receives funding from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community Initiative.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at mahaiwe.org, or by calling or visiting the Box Office, 413-528-0100, on Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
Individuals ages 30 and under are eligible for $15 tickets directly through the Box Office.
Use discount code welcome2023 at checkout online or directly through the Box Office to receive 50% off each ticket.
For the latest COVID safety protocols, visit mahaiwe.org/update.
About the Mahaiwe
Located in downtown Great Barrington, Mass., the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is the year-round presenter of world-class music, dance, theater, classic films, Live in HD broadcasts, and arts education programs for the southern Berkshires and neighboring regions. The intimate jewel box of a theater opened in 1905. Since 2005, the performing arts center has hosted over 1,500 events and welcomed over half a million people through its doors. More than 22,000 students from 73 different schools have benefited from the Mahaiwe’s school-time performances and residencies. For more information, see mahaiwe.org.

Navigating Immigration Court and Next Steps with Attorney Camila Ransom (SPANISH ONLY)
2023-04-17 17:30 - 18:30 | Zoom
The Berkshire Immigrant Center, Elizabeth Freeman Center, and Volunteers in Medicine will host a virtual workshop on April 17 at 5:30 pm in Spanish only with Attorney Camila Ransom. She will talk about navigating immigration court, ICE check-ins and options for changing status. It is a free event and you can join by clicking HERE.
Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/navegando-la-corte-de-inmigrac/259344509851165/

Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Box Office Day in Spanish
2023-04-16 12:00 - 14:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
We will be open on Sunday, April 16th to sell Pedrito Martinez tickets and serve you in Spanish. Come to the Mahaiwe’s Box Office from 12 to 2pm or call us at 413-528-0100 to speak to one of our Spanish-language Community Advisory Network (SCAN) Advisors.
For more information about Pedrito Martinez, visit https://www.pedritomartinezmusic.com/.

Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence with Tanya Selvaratnam
2023-04-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
You are invited to join the Berkshire Domestic & Sexual Violence Task Force, Elizabeth Freeman Center and the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office for an evening with Tanya Selvaratnam.

Within 3 hours of its publication, her interview with The New Yorker in 2018 resulted in the resignation of Eric Schneiderman as New York State’s Attorney General. While publicly prosecuting Harvey Weinstein for sexually assaulting his employees, he was physically, sexually, and emotionally abusing his own partner at home. She wasn’t his first victim, but she hoped to be his last.

20 groups across the Berkshires have read and discussed her memoir, Assume Nothing: A Story of Intimate Violence, and now we will hear from her during a webinar where she will present and then participate in a Q&A.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Registration is required: https://tinyurl.com/yd5vatyx

Spanish and ASL interpretation will be provided.

Here is the FB event.

Preparing for Homeownership (Portuguese)
2023-03-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Greylock Federal Credit Union, OR via zoom, 75 Kellogg St, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States

Moving Life Stories (South County)
2023-03-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-03-17 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-03-10 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-03-03 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-02-24 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-02-17 18:00 - 20:00 | South Berkshire Friends Meeting House, 280 State Road, Great Barrington, 01230
Open to all ages; FREE
South County Series:
Fridays, Feb 3 – March 24
6-8pm
Location: South Berkshire Friends Meeting House in Great Barrington
280 State Rd, Great Barrington, MA 01230
To express interest or get in touch, please contact berkshire.pulse@gmail.com or call 413-274-6624.
Moving Life Stories (MLS) is a creative movement class created for and geared toward the immigrant population and their allies in the Berkshires. MLS provides opportunities to share personal journeys, stories, and connections to places past and present through movement games, exercises, dancing, and community building.
In this series of workshops, we will learn various ways to tell and embody our stories through play, creative movement, and the creation of mini-dances. No prior movement experience is required, and the class is appropriate for all ages.
A Spanish-speaking interpreter will be present, childcare is provided, and transportation can be arranged.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Historias de Vida en Movimiento es una clase de movimiento creativo creado para la comunidad inmigrante en los Berkshire. La clase brinda la oportunidad de compartir experiencias personales e historias de y conexiones con lugares de su pasado y presente a través del movimiento, ejercicios, baile y construcción de comunidad.
En esta serie de talleres aprenderemos varios métodos para contar y expresar nuestras historias a través del juego, movimiento creativo, y la creación de bailes cortos. No se requiere experiencia previa y la clase es apta para todas las edades.
Un traductor de habla hispana estará presente y se puede organizar el transporte gratuito.

Preparing for Homeownership (Spanish)
2023-03-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Greylock Federal Credit Union, OR via zoom, 75 Kellogg St, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States

JazzReach - Metta Quintet's She Said / She Says: Women in Jazz
2023-03-09 19:00, 2023-03-09 08:00 - 17:00 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
$20 general admission / $15 Mahaiwe Members / $10 ages 12 and under
She Said / She Says is a comprehensive program highlighting some of the many important achievements of female composers, arrangers, instrumentalists and vocalists from early 20th century through present-day. Using U.S. and 20th Century women’s history as a backdrop, She Said / She Says celebrates the lives of some of the many courageous, creative women who have dedicated their lives to the serious study and practice of jazz music.
Established in 1994, JazzReach is a nationally recognized New York City not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion, performance, creation and teaching of jazz music. She Said / She Says will be performed by the Metta Quintet, JazzReach’s resident ensemble.
Use the code jazzwomen2023 at online checkout to receive free tickets!

Free English Classes! Business English USA
2023-02-26 13:30 - 14:30
Join our free weekly English classes on Sundays at 1:30pm. Our classes focus on teaching immigrants english for the workplace. The classes span a variety of topics from employee rights and legal vocabulary, to social media and financial literacy.
Click HERE to sign up! Only your name and email address is necessary to sign up!
For more information on specific course topics and other free programs that we offer, check out our website!

Free English Classes! Business English USA
2023-02-19 13:30 - 14:30
Join our free weekly English classes on Sundays at 1:30pm. Our classes focus on teaching immigrants English for the workplace. The classes span a variety of topics from employee rights and legal vocabulary, to social media and financial literacy.
Click HERE to sign up! Only your name and email address are necessary!
For more information on specific course topics and other free programs that we offer, check out our website!

Taxes 101
2023-02-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Lee Middle and High School, 300 Greylock St, Lee, 01238
Save the date for BASIC’s upcoming in-person tax workshop, presented by local tax preparer Smith, Watson & Company, LLP, held in SPANISH ONLY. Learn about…

The importance of declaring your taxes regardless of immigration status
SSN vs. ITIN
Selecting the correct filing status
Reporting your income correctly
Who counts as a dependent
Filing taxes as self-employed
Avoiding fines for not having health insurance
Risks of financial fraud

Free Movie: Miracle on 34th Street
2022-12-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
A Classic Christmas movie made in 1957. After a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Clause at Macy’s, she is startled by his claim to the genuine article. When his sanity is questioned, a lawyer defends him in court by arguing that he’s not mistaken

Yes on 4 Victory Party
2022-12-10 17:00 - 21:00 | Unitarian Universalist Church of Pittsfield, 175 Wendell Avenue, Pittsfield, MA, 01201
Come celebrate our victory to obtain driving licenses for all in Massachusetts.
Let’s eat, dance and have fun together.
Limited seating.
Please text Natalia if you are interested in attending: 518-567-2501

Attend Public Hearing on Rail Line to Pittsfield
2022-12-09 11:00 - 13:00 | Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, United States
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State House, Boston 02133
Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission

Rep. William M. Straus, House Chair

Sen. Brendan P. Crighton, Senate Chair

House Chair

Senate Chair

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Date of Hearing: December, 9, 2022
Time: 11 AM
Location: Berkshire Innovation Center
Address: 45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield MA
Please be advised that Representative William Straus and Senator Brendan Crighton, co-chairs of the Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission, have announced the first of six public meetings of the Commission, which are being held pursuant to §60 of Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2022. The legislature established this commission to investigate and receive public testimony concerning potential public entities with the ability to design, permit, construct, operate and maintain passenger rail service proposals from the East-West Passenger Rail Study Final Report.
The meeting is scheduled for December 9, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield. Members of the public wishing to view and participate in the meeting remotely may do so by accessing a livestream of the meeting that will be made available on the MassDOT website; additionally, if you wish to submit written testimony, please email commission staff at: Siobhan.Morrissey@mahouse.gov.
MEETING AGENDA

Call to Order
Introduction of Committee Membership
Open Floor for Discussion among Membership
Public Comment Period

This agenda has been prepared in advance and does not necessarily include all matters which may be taken up at this meeting. You may contact commission staff with any questions via email at: Siobhan.Morrissey@mahouse.gov.

Siobhán Morrissey
Committee Researcher (She/Her)
Joint Committee on Transportation
Room #134 – Ext. 7981
